Jean Wonser: Who will address water issues?

Published: Monday, June 24, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, June 21, 2013 at 11:18 p.m.

Who you gonna call when your well runs dry? Do not call the water management districts as they will explain why they are helpless to restrict water consumption through over pumping.

Who you gonna call when your water turns toxic with nitrates? Do not call the Department of Environmental Protection (Do Expect Pollution) for officials there will explain why they cannot say no to the abuse of nitrates in Florida.

Who you gonna call about abuse of our springs, aquifer and land-use patterns? Call your county commissioners, who do control land-use issues in each county. They can exert the most immediate action locally.

Then state representatives need to come to the real world and straighten out the rules at DEP and the water management district so the job can be done properly.

Let's face it: We can look at the Santa Fe River, Otter Springs, Ginnie Springs and other water bodies and understand there is a serious problem with poison in the water, with a lack of water and with abuse of land use. Science is great but we have reached the lowest level in some monitor wells in the region and know there is a serious deficit. How much science is required to put a stop to overpumping and dumping of nitrates?

Remember, just because we are able to do it physically does not make it right. Everyone needs to remember that Florida was once a forest-covered wetland. Even though much has been drained, mostly ill-advised, the best use of Florida remains forest land.

Silviculture use does not pump water or dump nitrates on the land, our biggest enemies currently in the uses of Florida.

One thing is certain: If we do nothing, our environment will continue to degrade because there will be another factory farm planning to exploit what resources remain in a once-beautiful land.

<p>Who you gonna call when your well runs dry? Do not call the water management districts as they will explain why they are helpless to restrict water consumption through over pumping.</p><p>Who you gonna call when your water turns toxic with nitrates? Do not call the Department of Environmental Protection (Do Expect Pollution) for officials there will explain why they cannot say no to the abuse of nitrates in Florida.</p><p>Who you gonna call about abuse of our springs, aquifer and land-use patterns? Call your county commissioners, who do control land-use issues in each county. They can exert the most immediate action locally.</p><p>Then state representatives need to come to the real world and straighten out the rules at DEP and the water management district so the job can be done properly. </p><p>Let's face it: We can look at the Santa Fe River, Otter Springs, Ginnie Springs and other water bodies and understand there is a serious problem with poison in the water, with a lack of water and with abuse of land use. Science is great but we have reached the lowest level in some monitor wells in the region and know there is a serious deficit. How much science is required to put a stop to overpumping and dumping of nitrates? </p><p>Remember, just because we are able to do it physically does not make it right. Everyone needs to remember that Florida was once a forest-covered wetland. Even though much has been drained, mostly ill-advised, the best use of Florida remains forest land. </p><p>Silviculture use does not pump water or dump nitrates on the land, our biggest enemies currently in the uses of Florida.</p><p>One thing is certain: If we do nothing, our environment will continue to degrade because there will be another factory farm planning to exploit what resources remain in a once-beautiful land. </p><p><i>Jean Wonser lives in Trenton.</i></p>